Keeping livestock healthy is, of course, a priority for producers. And with increasing levels of antibiotic resistance, there’s a growing need for alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. Here you can find out how incorporating yeast and nucleotides can improve immune support and growth in animals and livestock.
The benefits of incorporating yeast in animal feed applications
Incorporating yeast extract into animal feed comes with multiple benefits, ranging from improving palatability to strengthening the immune system.
Improving palatability
Since yeast extracts are highly palatable, often adding meaty or roasted notes, animals such as pets are much more willing to eat food which encompasses this component. This can be particularly beneficial for animals with a reduced appetite to increase feed intake.
Strengthening of the immune system
Yeast cell walls are the outer, protective layer of the yeast cells and are primarily composed of complex carbohydrates, including beta-glucans and mannan-oligosaccharides. These two active ingredients can support the immune system.
Natural ingredients
Yeast extract is a natural and safe ingredient without genetic modification. This aligns with consumer preferences for natural and sustainable agricultural practices while reducing the need for synthetic additives and flavour enhancers.
Supporting weight gain
Rich in essential nutrients and highly digestible proteins, yeast extract supports the immune system and improves the daily weight gain and gut health of animals.
Incorporating dietary nucleotides
Incorporating dietary nucleotides into feed helps to improve animal health, along with supporting daily weight gain. Whilst nucleotides are produced naturally in the body through the process of synthesis, animals are often not able to produce enough when experiencing rapid growth. For this reason, adding yeast products, such as Ohly-GO® Nucleo, to animal feed is an effective way to boost animal growth and enhance health.
Beta-glucans and mannan-oligosaccharides, present within yeast cell walls both have immune-supporting properties. Nucleotides, found within yeast extract, are involved in the development and maturation of immune cells.
How are yeast extracts used for improving palatability?
Glutamic acid and nucleotides help to draw out rich, umami flavours, bringing a meaty and savoury taste to pet food.
Using yeast extracts within the production process can provide meaty and roasted notes that are more palatable for carnivorous animals than grains. Tasty and enjoyable foods are vital for ensuring that pets eat enough to get the nutrients they need.
Plus, the rich and complex taste of yeast extract is an effective way to mask undesirable flavours. For this reason, yeast extracts are commonly used to increase the palatability of pet supplements or to mask the often unpleasant taste of medicines.
Henning Gerstenkorn, Business Development Manager, Animal Health at Ohly says:
“When it comes to animal feed and pet food, yeast has a variety of beneficial uses. From nucleotides for immune support to yeast extracts for palatability, there are a range of benefits for both the livestock and pet food industries.
Yeast extract consists of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, peptides, nucleotides, vitamins, and minerals. It is the amino acids and nucleotides, that give yeast extract its rich umami and savoury taste.
On the other hand, yeast cell walls contain beta-glucans and mannan-oligosaccharides. These two active ingredients can support the immune system and bind toxins.”
